September 14, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1942

ALASKA (11th Air Force): In the first combined heavy mission over Kiska 13 B-24s, 1 B-17, 14 P-38s, and 14 P-39s fly low-altitude and photo runs; the P-39s shell 3 submarines in the harbor; the other aircraft bomb and strafe many installations including AA guns and the submarine base; a single aircraft also strafes Segula; enemy losses are 5 float planes shot down and 1 flying boat destroyed on the water; 2 mine sweepers sunk and another vessel slightly damaged; while a large cargo vessel and several small barges and vessels sustain hits; 2 P-38s are lost, colliding head-on while after a fighter.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): A single A-20 bombs ground forces and installations at Myola; and Headquarters, 43d Bombardment Group moves from Torrens Creek to Port Moresby. Lost is F-4 Lightning 41-2098 pilot 1st Lt. Andrew W. Peterson (MIA) near Buna.

IJN: At Rabaul around 1:00pm an accident detonates munitions stockpiles stored on the coast of Rabaul. Meeting nearby, Vice Admiral Ugaki and Vice Admiral Tsukahara and other senior officers evacuated their headquarters building and took cover in an air raid shelter. Over the next twelve hours, explosions continued to detonate on the waterfront.

References
Fortress Rabaul pages 238-239